The State Fisheries Department, Kisumu office has acquired two new vessels to enable it undertake various operations in Lake Victoria.
The two vessels MV Kingfisher and MV Urafiki were acquired at a tune of Sh98 million each.
Joseph Kasuti from the Kisumu fisheries office said the vessels will be vital in controlling illegal activities in the lake and consequently improve the quality of fish from Lake Victoria.
"Our new vessels will assist us in tackling problems such illegal fishing and fighting trans-border piracy and conflicts which have really affected the fishing in Lake Victoria," said Kasuti.
Kasuti who was speaking at the Kisumu County Service Delivery Board meeting on Thursday said the fisheries department is planning to add more vessels in the near future with the help of donors.
"We are looking for donor funding to enable us add more vessels to tackle the challenges we face most especially illegal fishing," added Kasuti.
Kasuti said that Lake Victoria has seen the rise in the use of illegal fishing nets, such as mosquito nets and they hope to use the vessels in nabbing the culprits.
He added that during the last financial year the government allocated the fisheries Sh500,000 for repair of other vessels that are now seaworthy.